Life-Long Christian Learning

Abstract

This editorial essay argues several interlocking theses: most broadly in historical thesis that an ideology of this-world-only secularism dethroned the antecedent ideology of Christendom (the Christian people under Pope and Emperor) but is currently in steep decline, subverted by postmodern ideologies of nihilism creating a cultural vacuum. This broad thesis is then integrated with a theological thesis that congregational life is basic to Christian vitality and that congregational life is a comprehensive inculturation by the Holy Spirit into the reign with the crucified, risen and ascended Lord Jesus by learning the mind of Christ. The decline of congregational vitality in this light is diagnosed as a failure of Christian pedagogy. The remedy of it, it is finally argued, is lifelong Christian learning of the Reformation vision of holy secularity, grounded in the gracious justification of the ungodly. Hence: a renewed catechesis to know the mind of Christ given to us working a new evangelization of faith active in love in hope against hope for a perilous time.